Overhead mail or parcel carrier.



J. E. MONTINE.

OVERHEAD MAIL OR PARCEL CARRIER.

APPLICATION HLBD 11,111.13. 1914.

1 1 22,785. 'Patented 1360.29, 1914.

3 SHEETSYSHEET 1.

- CMMI. 51mm:

J. P. MONTINE. OVERHEAD MAIL 0E PARCEL GAEEIEE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1914. 1 1 22,785 Patented Deo. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

J. F. MONTINE.

OVERHEAD MAIL 0R PARCEL CARRIER4 APPLICATION FILED MAR, I3. 1914.

l l 22,785, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

jpjg. 4Z,

@Hof/mug JOSEPH 'E'. MONTINE, OIE' NEVINVILLE, IOWA.

OVERHEAD MAIL OR PARCEL CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1914. Serial No. 824,551. v

T0 aZZ/wzom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I. JOSEPH F. MONTINE, la citizen of the United States, residing at Nevinville, in the county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful improvements in Overhead Mail or Parcel Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to electrically Operated collection and delivery apparatus, and more particularly to the class of overhead mail or parcel carriers.

The primary object ofthe invention is the provision of an apparatus wherein mail, parcels or other articles to be collected and distributed along a route are placed within a receiver which is suspended from an elevated track, the receiver being electrically driven to have the saine travel from point to point for the convenient handling of the matter throughout the route.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus wherein the hanger for the receiver is of novel form so as to absorb shocks and jars incident to the travel and also is connected to the receiver in a manner to afford the storing of articles therein. *Y

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the speed of travel of the receiver is automatically controlled so thatthe speed can be diminished or increased at points in the route, as `well as being stoppedand started.Y y i y A still further object of theinvention is the provision of an apparatus wherein the exchange of mail, parcels or the like to and from the carrier and station can be accomplished in a convenient manner for the collection and delivery thereof throughout a route.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eliicient in its operation, and inexpensive in installation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a.

fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view. Fig. A is a horizontal sectional view through the motor casing. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the speed controller for the motor. grammatic view showing the trip arm for the speed controller with relation thereto. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the track, showing the left hand curve therein. Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the right hand curve in the track. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the current rail.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus comprises a receiver A which may be of any desirable construction to receive mail, parcels or other articles to be transported from one point to another, and

in one side` of the receiver is a doorway B to permit access to be had thereto, the receiver being suspended from and movable along an elevated track 10 iixed at predetermined intervals to supports k11 bolted or otherwise secured to abracket 12 mounted upon a pole 13 suitably anchored in the ground, it being understood of course that tracks can be arranged at opposite sides of the pole so that the receiver A can travel at either side if desired.

Arranged above the receiver A near each end thereof is a motor carriage C, which Fig. 6 is a fragmentary dia-` comprises a bed or base 14 on which are fixed twin motors 15 of the electric type, the rotary shafts 16 of which are fitted at opposite ends with beveled gears 17 meshing with beveled pinions 18 fixed to opposite ends of stud shafts 19 arranged at right angles to the shaft 16 and supported in bearings 20, the said shafts l9being fitted with traction pulley wheels `21 arranged in pairs and working through slots 22 formed` in the bed or base 14 to travel upon the track 10 for the driving of the receiver. On each bed or base 14- is fixed a casing or hood 23 forming a covering for each motor C.

Arranged parallel with the track 10 at the inner side thereof is an electric current wire 24:, the same boing supported at predetermined points by means of a bracket 25 which is iixed to the support 11 for the track 10, and adapted to travel on this wire 24 is a contact wheel 26, the same journaled at one end of an arm 27 pivoted to a stud 28 projecting laterally from the bed or base 14 of the motor C, and connected to the respective motors 15 and the stud 28 is wiring 29 sothat the electric current from the wire 24 can be fed to the motors 15 for the driving thereof. Connected to the covering 23 andto an ear 30 on thev arm 27 is a coiled tension spring 31 which serves to hold the wheel 26 in vcontact with tlie current wire 24 on the swinging of the receiver A during the travel thereof. The peripheral treads 32 on the pulley `wheels 21 are roughened to prevent the slipping thereof on the track while the receiver is in motion, the latter being suspended `from each motor carriage C by means of a hanger D hereinafter fully described.

AEach hangerl) comprises a stem 33 which is suitably fixed in a boss 34 integral with andv projecting` beneath the bed or base 14 ofthe carriage C for connection therewith. The stem 33 is passed through a tubular columnor sleeve 35 mounted in the receiver A and projected through the top or roof thereof, the said column or sleeve 35 being passed through a bearing 36 fixed to and at one side of an 1 beam 37 mounted interiorly of the receiver A, and also is passed through a collar 3S fixed to a cross sill 39 .within the saidreceiver below the I beam 3 7." The sleeve 35 at its inner end has vthreaded thereon a nut 40 which works against the collar 38, and in this manner the sleeve is mounted Vin the receiver. Surrounding thestem 33'betvveen the bearing 34 and the sleeve 35 is a coiledcompression 'spring 41 wliichserves as a shock absorber.

while splined or `keyedto the inner end of the stem 33 are spaced disks 42, one of which has iixed therein guide pins 43, the same freely slidable through the other disk, andsurrounding these pins 43 are coiled 'compression springs44 which serve as shock absorbers.

., j Thestem has4 iixed'to its inner end a cup ``45which 'incloses the disks 42 with the pins will readily take the curves 47 in the andsprings 44, it being apparent that the disks are longitudinally slidable on the stem 33, and threaded upon this stem isa nut 46 with which contacts one ofl the disks 42, and in this manner the said disks are held upon the stem. Each stem 33 is swiveled in `the receiver A so that the motor lcarriage C tracklO.

` Supported on the base or bed 14 of each carrier C at one side of the twin motors 15 isan electric speed controller 48 which is suitablywired to the said motors and has a `which is operated in out the length of the track 10, the arm 50 being designed to engage the wheel 49 at its lowermost point yfor causing the turning thereof in one direction, while the arm 51 is adapted to engage the said wheel at its uppermost point. to rotate the same in' the reverse direction, and in this manner the controller 48 is actuated for increasing or decreasing the speed of the twin motors 15 or for the starting or stopping thereof automatically. These arms 50 and 51 are each fixed in a suitable bracket 52 which is mounted upon the pole 13 to overhang the track 10 supported by the bracket 12 thereon. It is of course to be understood that when the motors 15 are to be started the wheel 49 has to be manually rotated for the turning on of the current from the wire 24 to thesaid motor, but by the tripping of Y ceiver at a predetermined point in the route,

or at the terminals thereof. It is preferable to arrange the trip arms50 or 51 at opposite sides of the curves 47 so that when the receiver A approaches the curve the speed of travel thereof will be gradually decreased,

and after rounding thesaid curve 47 the 'i speed of travel thereof will be increased by the automatic action of the controller 4 8V a manner heretofore described.

It is to be understoodiof course thatV in lieu of the pairs of pulley wheels 21 and their arrangement, any' number of these wheels can be employed with the construction of suitable means to support the same on each carriage.

The apparatus can be constructed, that is, the body of the carriage, for use in conveying 'passengers in lieu of mail or parcels,'or it may be used for fthe conveying of any article, and this is contemplated within the invention. v

From the foregoing it isjthought thatthe construction and manner of operationrof the device will be clearly understood, and.

therefore amore extended explanation has been omitted.

Vhat is claimed is Y Y 1. An apparatus of` the class described comprising an elevated track, an electric current carrying element disposed at one side of the track,`moto'r carriages movable over tlie trackand having electrically operated motors having movable connection -With the current carrying element, a reiiov ceiver arranged below the track, a boss depending from each carriage, tubular columns arranged. within the receiver, stems Vxed in and depending from the bosses and passed through thetuhular columns, and,v

shock absorbing devicesy arranged. at the inner ends of the stems and working against the said columnfor resiliently supporting the receiver.

pending from each carriage, tubular columns arranged within the receiver, stems fixed in and depending Jfrom the bosses and passed through the tubular columns, shock .absorbing devices arranged at the inner ends of the stems and working against the said column for resiliently supporting the receiver, and resilient means disposed between the bosses and the said column and surroundinglthe stem.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising an elevated track, an electric current carrying element disposed at y one side of the track, motor carriages movable over the track and having. electrically operated motors having movable connection with the current carrying element, a receiver arranged below thetrack, a boss depending rom each carriage, tubular columns arranged within the receiver, stems fixed in and depending from the bosses and passed through the tubular columns, shock absorbing devices arranged at the inner ends of the stems and working against the said column for resiliently supporting the receiver, resilient means disposed between the bosses and the said column and surrounding the stem, and means for pivotally connect ing the bosses to the said carriages to permit lateral swinging of the receiver.

fl. An apparatus of the class described comprising an elevated track, an electric current carrying element disposed at one side ofthe track, motor carriages movable over the track and having electrically operated motors having movable connection with the current carrying element, a receiver arranged below the track, a boss depending from each carriage, tubular columns arranged within the receiver, stems fixed in and depending from the bosses and passed through the tubular columns, shock absorbing devices arranged at the inner ends of the stems and working against the said column for resiliently supporting the receiver, resilient means disposed between the bosses and the said column and surrounding the stem, means for pivotally connecting the bosses to the said carriages to permit lateral swinging'of the receiver, and coperative means arranged at intervals longitudinally of the track and on the motors respectively to serve as electric speed controllers for the latter.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. MONTINE. Witnesses:

JAMES KosAR, GUY HEFLEN.

Copies of this patent may belobtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. G. 

